Business Law Library & Tracker

Main Australian Business Laws

Start with the main Acts, codes and regulations that shape everyday business decisions. Amendment Acts, specialist instruments and narrow source records are handled as updates or supporting material instead of cluttering this view.

Sources last reviewed 8 June 2026

Main law guides

297

Acts, regulations and codes worth reading first

Topics

22

Plain-English clusters

Published case explainers

496

Selected cases with a business lesson

Tracked updates

110

New, amended & reviewed

Plain-English explainers, not legal advice. Use the linked official source for section-level detail, and get advice for your situation.

Get legal help
297 main laws shown
Main lawCommonwealth

Fair Work Act 2009

Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 29 May 2026
Employment & Workplace
Main lawCommonwealth

Privacy Act 1988

Privacy Act 1988 (Cth)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 29 May 2026
Privacy & Data
Main lawCommonwealth

Competition and Consumer Act 2010

Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Consumer Law & TradingFranchising & Regulated Industries
Main lawCommonwealth

A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 (Cth)

A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 (Cth)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 7 June 2026
Tax & BAS ComplianceBusiness Registration & OperationsFinance, Payments & Security
Main lawCommonwealth

Corporations Act 2001

Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Companies & StartupsInsolvency & Restructuring
Main lawCommonwealth

Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth)

Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 7 June 2026
Discrimination & AccessibilityEmployment & WorkplaceConsumer Law & Trading
Main lawCommonwealth

Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth)

Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 7 June 2026
Discrimination & AccessibilityEmployment & WorkplaceConsumer Law & Trading
Main lawCommonwealth

Taxation Administration Act 1953 (Cth)

Taxation Administration Act 1953 (Cth)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 7 June 2026
Tax & BAS ComplianceBusiness Registration & OperationsFinance, Payments & Security
Main lawCommonwealth

Trade Marks Act 1995

Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 29 May 2026
IP & Brand Protection
Main lawCommonwealth

A New Tax System (Australian Business Number) Act 1999 (Cth)

A New Tax System (Australian Business Number) Act 1999 (Cth)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 7 June 2026
Tax & BAS ComplianceBusiness Registration & OperationsFinance, Payments & Security
Main lawVictoria

Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic)

Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Work Health & SafetyEmployment & Workplace
Main lawNorthern Territory

Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011 (NT)

Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011 (NT)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Work Health & SafetyEmployment & Workplace
Main lawACT

Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (ACT)

Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (ACT)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Work Health & SafetyEmployment & Workplace
Main lawNew South Wales

Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW)

Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Work Health & SafetyEmployment & Workplace
Main lawQueensland

Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld)

Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Work Health & SafetyEmployment & Workplace
Main lawSouth Australia

Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (SA)

Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (SA)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Work Health & SafetyEmployment & Workplace
Main lawTasmania

Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (Tas)

Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (Tas)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Work Health & SafetyEmployment & Workplace
Main lawWestern Australia

Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA)

Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Work Health & SafetyEmployment & Workplace
Main lawWestern Australia

Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2021 (WA)

Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2021 (WA)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesContracts & Commercial
Main lawNew South Wales

Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW)

Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesContracts & Commercial
Main lawVictoria

Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2002 (Vic)

Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2002 (Vic)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesContracts & Commercial
Main lawACT

Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2009 (ACT)

Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2009 (ACT)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesContracts & Commercial
Main lawSouth Australia

Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2009 (SA)

Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2009 (SA)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesContracts & Commercial
Main lawTasmania

Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2009 (Tas)

Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2009 (Tas)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesContracts & Commercial
Main lawQueensland

Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Act 2017 (Qld)

Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Act 2017 (Qld)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesContracts & Commercial
Main lawNorthern Territory

Construction Contracts (Security of Payments) Act 2004 (NT)

Construction Contracts (Security of Payments) Act 2004 (NT)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Construction & TradesContracts & Commercial
CodeCommonwealth

Franchising Code of Conduct

Competition and Consumer (Industry Codes - Franchising) Regulations 2024 (Cth)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Franchising & Regulated Industries
Main lawCommonwealth

Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth)

Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 7 June 2026
Discrimination & AccessibilityEmployment & WorkplaceConsumer Law & Trading
Main lawTasmania

Australian Consumer Law (Tasmania) Act 2010 (Tas)

Australian Consumer Law (Tasmania) Act 2010 (Tas)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Consumer Law & Trading
Main lawVictoria

Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Act 2012 (Vic)

Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Act 2012 (Vic)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Consumer Law & Trading
Main lawCommonwealth

Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth)

Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 7 June 2026
Discrimination & AccessibilityEmployment & WorkplaceConsumer Law & Trading
Main lawNew South Wales

Children (Education and Care Services) National Law (NSW)

Children (Education and Care Services) National Law (NSW)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 8 June 2026
Franchising & Regulated IndustriesEmployment & WorkplaceBusiness Registration & OperationsContracts & CommercialPrivacy & DataPlanning, Building & Local Approvals
Main lawNorthern Territory

Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading (Motor Vehicle Dealers) Regulations 1992 (NT)

Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading (Motor Vehicle Dealers) Regulations 1992 (NT)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Consumer Law & TradingFranchising & Regulated IndustriesBusiness Registration & OperationsContracts & CommercialFinance, Payments & SecurityFood & Product Compliance
Main lawNorthern Territory

Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading Act 1990 (NT)

Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading Act 1990 (NT)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Consumer Law & Trading
Main lawNorthern Territory

Education and Care Services (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011 (NT)

Education and Care Services (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011 (NT)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 8 June 2026
Franchising & Regulated IndustriesEmployment & WorkplaceBusiness Registration & OperationsContracts & CommercialPrivacy & DataPlanning, Building & Local Approvals
Main lawACT

Education and Care Services National Law (ACT) Act 2011 (ACT)

Education and Care Services National Law (ACT) Act 2011 (ACT)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 8 June 2026
Franchising & Regulated IndustriesEmployment & WorkplaceBusiness Registration & OperationsContracts & CommercialPrivacy & DataPlanning, Building & Local Approvals
Main lawTasmania

Education and Care Services National Law (Application) Act 2011 (Tas)

Education and Care Services National Law (Application) Act 2011 (Tas)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 8 June 2026
Franchising & Regulated IndustriesEmployment & WorkplaceBusiness Registration & OperationsContracts & CommercialPrivacy & DataPlanning, Building & Local Approvals
Main lawQueensland

Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) Act 2011 (Qld)

Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) Act 2011 (Qld)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 8 June 2026
Franchising & Regulated IndustriesEmployment & WorkplaceBusiness Registration & OperationsContracts & CommercialPrivacy & DataPlanning, Building & Local Approvals
Main lawVictoria

Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 (Vic)

Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 (Vic)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 8 June 2026
Franchising & Regulated IndustriesEmployment & WorkplaceBusiness Registration & OperationsContracts & CommercialPrivacy & DataPlanning, Building & Local Approvals
Main lawWestern Australia

Education and Care Services National Law Application Act 2026 (WA)

Education and Care Services National Law Application Act 2026 (WA)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 8 June 2026
Franchising & Regulated IndustriesEmployment & WorkplaceBusiness Registration & OperationsContracts & CommercialPrivacy & DataPlanning, Building & Local Approvals
Main lawSouth Australia

Education and Early Childhood Services (Registration and Standards) Act 2011 (SA)

Education and Early Childhood Services (Registration and Standards) Act 2011 (SA)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 8 June 2026
Franchising & Regulated IndustriesEmployment & WorkplaceBusiness Registration & OperationsContracts & CommercialPrivacy & DataPlanning, Building & Local Approvals
Main lawACT

Fair Trading (Australian Consumer Law) Act 1992 (ACT)

Fair Trading (Australian Consumer Law) Act 1992 (ACT)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Consumer Law & Trading
Main lawNew South Wales

Fair Trading Act 1987 (NSW)

Fair Trading Act 1987 (NSW)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Consumer Law & Trading
Main lawSouth Australia

Fair Trading Act 1987 (SA)

Fair Trading Act 1987 (SA)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Consumer Law & Trading
Main lawQueensland

Fair Trading Act 1989 (Qld)

Fair Trading Act 1989 (Qld)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Consumer Law & Trading
Main lawWestern Australia

Fair Trading Act 2010 (WA)

Fair Trading Act 2010 (WA)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Consumer Law & Trading
Main lawCommonwealth

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cth)

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cth)

PriorityIn force5 practical checks · checked 7 June 2026
Tax & BAS ComplianceBusiness Registration & OperationsFinance, Payments & Security
Main lawCommonwealth

Independent Contractors Act 2006 (Cth)

Independent Contractors Act 2006 (Cth)

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 1 June 2026
Employment & WorkplaceBusiness Registration & Operations